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Home Remedies for Boils

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Have you ever experienced the pain and irritation caused by a boil?

What are boils and how are they caused?

Boils are small pus filled areas that occur around a hair follicle as a result of infection by Staphylococcus bacteria. A boil appears as a red and swollen lump which also ignites pain when touched. Boils can occur on hairy areas of the skin where friction occurs the most, such as the armpits, pubic area, and around the anus.

Can boils be treated at home?

Yes, boils can very well be treated at home. There are several home remedies available to cure boils efficiently. Read the article to get some useful tips, by the use of which you can get rid of boils in the comfort of your home.

Apply warmth to the boil

Applying warmth over the surface that bears the boil makes an effective home remedy. To apply this remedy, you need to take a clean cloth and hold it under hot tap water for a few seconds. Squeeze the cloth until extra water drains out from it. Now gently press this moist cloth over the boil for about five to ten minutes. Repeat this procedure three or four times in a day.

This 'hot compressor remedy' works in many ways to cure the boil. When you compress a warm cloth on the boil, it transfers heat to that area of the skin, which in turn increases blood circulation, and hence, anti-bodies and other healing cells are attracted towards that area. Moreover, the remedy works by drawing pus towards the surface of the boil, which in turn aids in draining it out.

To apply this remedy on boils that are present in the lower part of your body, you can sit in a tub of adequate warm water for a few minutes. This shall also help with the healing of the boil.

Compressing the boil with a warm cloth will also help in relieving the pain associated with the boil.

A Quick Tip: Once you have drained the boil, wash it properly with an anti-bacterial soap. Dry it with a paper towel and discard this paper towel in order to prevent the infection from spreading. Avoid pricking the boil with a needle to drain out its pus, as this will increase the risk of spreading of infection.

Apply Tea tree oil

This natural oil also makes an excellent remedy to treat boils. Owing to its anti-septic property, it can fight off the bacterial infection, which acts as the main cause of boils. All you need to do is to apply some of the tea tree oil onto the affected area of the skin, once daily in the morning after having a shower. Use a cotton ball to apply the natural oil.

Once you observe the head of the boil protruding outwards, gently apply some pressure onto its side using a cotton ball soaked with tea tree oil. This aids in draining the pus.

Apply Castor Oil

Castor oil has numerous medicinal properties. It is also used frequently to treat boils at home. Its application is the same as that of tea tree oil. But you need to cover the area with some gauze after applying castor oil onto it.

Repeat the application of castor oil daily. It is likely to bring out pus from the boil within two to three days.

Use Epsom salt

You can also make an efficient boil compressor using Epsom salt. Mix some of this salt with warm water. Soak a clean piece of cloth into this solution. Squeeze the cloth piece and gently press it onto the boil for a few minutes.

The remedy helps in bringing the head of the boil to the surface, which makes it easy for you to drain out the pus.

Use Neem (Indian Lilac)

We all are quite well aware of the boons of Neem. Here too, this plant makes a great home remedy, owing to its anti-bacterial and anti-septic properties.

To apply this remedy, all you need to do is to grind some neem leaves and make a paste. Rub this paste gently over the boil. There is also a second way to use the neem remedy. Boil some neem leaves in water, until the water is reduced to one third of its original quantity. You may use this water as a solution to rinse the boil.

Use Black seeds

This is yet another culinary agent which has multiple medicinal qualities. One of its properties is that it helps in curing the boils.

In order to follow this remedy, you need to take a handful of the seeds and grind them into a paste. Apply this paste gently over the affected part of your skin. You may also add the seeds in your beverage, may it be hot or cold. Drink this mixture twice in a day and continue it for several days.

Use Onion

Your kitchen serves as a natural pharmacy, where you can find several agents to cure many of your ailments.

Onion, a very common culinary ingredient, also makes an effective remedy for healing boils by the virtue of its anti-septic properties. Cut out a thick onion slice, place it onto the affected part and wrap it with a cloth. It is done so in order to allow the heat generated from the onion slice to reach the boil and do its magic.

You need to repeat this procedure three to four times daily, until the head of the boil comes to the surface and is ready to drain out.

Use Bitter gourd

Although, its taste is unpleasant for many of us, yet we cannot ignore its extremely useful and uncountable medicinal benefits.

Application of bitter gourd juice onto the boils aids in draining out the pus faster. It also soothes the inflamed area.

Use Betel nut leaves

Boil two to three betel nut leaves in half a cup of water. Keep the mixture on low flame for 10-15 minutes. Cool it and grind to make a paste out of it. Apply this paste onto the boil, wrap it with a clean cloth, and secure it using tapes.

About the Author

I am a homoeopathic physician and a nutritionist. I have been working since last 14 years in the healthcare industry. I started my career as a practicing physician and simultaneously also contributed articles to various homoeopathic magazines and health websites. Then I joined GE capital as an Insurance Underwriter and worked there for nine years. However, my penchant for health and fitness writing continued and finally, I bade good bye to my lucrative corporate career and started as a freelance writer.